The Irish standard., 1887-04-02
ouTWI7TING the MAJOR.
The Manner in Which Major SIR Secured
Information Concerning the Places
Where Pixies Were Secreted.
THE SCHEME OF A MECHANIC

To Make the Government Pay for Old Iron
the Proceeds Of Which Were Devoted
to the Cause in '98.
The following anecdote, relating to
the celebrated Major SIR, has never be-
fore been published: During the pc
riod Immediately preceding the arrest
of Lord Edward Fitzgerald, the Gov
ernment were fully aware that in va
rious parts of the country preparations
were in active progress for a rising, and,
in particular, it was known that great
efforts were being made to provide a
supply of arms for the insurgents. To
discover the hiding place Of these wea-
pons was one of the most pressing du-
ties of police agents; and in Dublin,
Major SIR was specially employed in
endeavoring to obtain information as to
their whereabouts. One night an in
dividual, having the appearance of a
working mechanic, presented himself
at the Majors private Office; and. hav-
ing solicited and obtained an interview,
announced his ability to disclose where
number of pixies were concealed in
the city. The Major put his visitor
through severe interrogatory which
he stood without f1inching, and at
length it was agreed that his informa-
tion should be tested, and, if found to
be correct, he should be we'll rewarded,
and taken into pay as a secret agent OF
the police Acting on his statement,
the Major sent some constables to
search cellar in an uninhabited house
wherein sure enough were discovered
half a dozen new pike heads, wrapped
in canvas.
This proof of the informer's veracity
induced the Major to place some conf
dence in his utility and accordingly he
paid him a substantial reward and
promised further supplies in return for
equally good information. 1t was not
long until the spy again reported a
cache of pixies, which, to the number Of
six or seven, we're accordingly seized.
Again and again the mechanic came
with his story, which was always cor
rect; and, in return for seizure by the
police of very few weapons, he re-.
ceived very substantial sum in hard
cash to encourage him to continue his
valuable services.
The Major himself was too deeply oc-
cupied with more serious and important
matters to think much of these fre-
Quent little captures and as he was lib
orally provided with funds. he paid the
rewards as a matter OF course. One Of
his subordinate officials, however, be-
came suspicious of the too frequent re-
ports of the spy, and privately watched
his movements. He succeeded in dis
covering that he was constantly in
the habit of frequenting small house
at the end of an obscure court in the
Coombe; and he also ascertained that
this house was the resort of several
mysterious looking personages, who
came and went invariably by night, and
with every precaution to avoid observa-
ton.
Having fully satisfied himself as to
these facts the officer communicated his
suspicious to the Major, who at once
felt their weight, and determined to
thoroughly search the house in the
Coombe.
Making his arrangements so as to
catch the informer on the premises, the
Major, with strong party of police
who guarded every exit suddenly burst
in the door, dashing in, came on regu-
lar armory of pixies, swords and mus
kets stored up in one of the lower
rooms of the heuse.
The informer with another man was
arrested as he was in the act of endeav-
oring to escape through window. He
was brought into the presence Of the
Major, who stood, terrible in his
wrath, in front of the pile Of deadly
weapons.
s.You are little late with your in
formation this time, my man." said he
sternly. 'This is a rather larger hide
than you have been in the habit of dis
covering"
The prisoner drew himself up and
returned the Majors gaze dedantly.
IF you waited for my help to find
this nest, Major, you would have been
long enough without it, :" he replied.
"Well I've got them, at all events, !"
said the Major, ''and, rely upon it, I
will keep them and make you smart for
your share IN the transaction, too.''
GAS to keeping the arms" replied
the prisoner, ''there is no one will dis
pute your claim to them. You paid for
every stand of them, though I never
though the devil would help you to
their possession. When you paid me
twenty pounds for five shillings' worth
Of old iron you did not imagine that I
was prOfitablY investing the balance in